Dishwashing Machine

ABSTRACT

A dishwashing machine is provided having a door pivotable around the horizontal axis thereof and a switch arranged on the door. The switch is operable to generate an electric signal when a predetermined pivoting angle of the door is reached as the door is being opened. The dishwasher also includes a light source that illuminates the interior of the dishwashing machine, the light source being disposed in the interior of the dishwashing machine and being operably connected to the switch such that the light source is activated into an illuminated condition in response to the receipt of the electrical signal from the switch.

The invention relates to a dishwashing machine provided with a doorwhich is arranged in such a way that it is pivotable around thehorizontal axis thereof.

Dishwashing machines provided with a door which is arranged in such away that it is pivotable around the horizontal axis thereof and which isopened for loading and unloading are known. This pivotally mounted dooris generally embodied in a dishwashing machine such that it is opened sofar for loading and unloading that the inner side of the door facing thetreatment compartment, the washing container, is aligned substantiallyhorizontally so that a lower crockery basket can be received. For thispurpose the lower crockery basket advantageously has rollers or wheeldevices on its underside which are guided over special rails or beads inthe inside of the door. After the door has been completely opened out,i.e., until the door is aligned substantially horizontally and the lowercrockery basket has rolled out, this can be loaded and unloadedrelatively conveniently. Such a widely opened door represents apotential hazard, especially if a dishwashing machine thus opened islocated in a dark room, for example a kitchen.

It is the object of the invention to provide a dishwashing machine ofthe type specified initially which represents no increased potentialhazard even when the door is opened wide.

This object is solved by the dishwashing machine according to theinvention having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments ofthe invention are characterised in the dependent claims.

The inventive arrangement of the dishwashing machine according to theinvention provided with a door which is arranged in such a way that itis pivotable around the horizontal axis thereof, has a switch arrangedon the door and is embodied in such a way that it generates an electricsignal when a pivoting angle defined by the opened door is reached.

During daily use of a household appliance provided with a door which isarranged in such a way that it is pivotable around the horizontal axisthereof, said appliance is used differently according to the personalhabits of the user. Whereas some users always keep the pivotally mounteddoor closed and merely open it for loading and unloading, other peopleonly lock the pivotally mounted door during the program run and leavethe door ajar and unlocked for the rest of the time. Even if themechanical locking installation and the door seals of present-dayhousehold appliances are designed for lifetime usage, some people avoidcontinuously locking the door if no program is running. Another reasonfor not locking can be that the door can be opened more quickly forloading if it is not locked. Another reason for not locking may be thatodours can escape. Also moisture can easily escape from the interior ofthe household appliance without the door being pivoted out so far thatit represents a potential hazard.

With the dishwashing machine according to the invention, it is possiblefor a switch to generate an electric signal only when a certain pivotingangle defined by the opened door is reached, which signal for exampleswitches on a light source which illuminates the interior of thedishwashing machine. Thus, with the dishwashing machine according to theinvention it is also possible to leave the door ajar and unlocked,according to the personal habits of the user, without a light sourcebeing switched on in the interior of the dishwashing machine.

Likewise it is also possible not only to switch on a light source whichilluminates the interior of the dishwashing machine but also, or insteadof the interior of the dishwashing machine, to illuminate a crockerybasket located on the opened door.

The dishwashing machine according to the invention thus has theadvantage that a light source is always switched on when the door ispivoted out so far that it can be a potential hazard but no light isswitched on if the pivoting angle is small. Another advantage of thepresent invention is that the user of the household appliance, whenentering the unlit kitchen carrying items to be placed in the householdappliance for example, need not switch on the room light expressly forthis purpose for loading the household appliance but merely afterputting down the items and opening the household appliance, hassufficient light to be able to load the household appliance.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is advantageous to generatean acoustic signal in addition to switching on a light source.

The switch is advantageously arranged in the door so that no problemswith sealing with respect to the washing container are to be expected.

The invention provides a dishwashing machine of the type specifiedinitially which presents no increased potential hazard even when thedoor is wide open.

The invention is explained subsequently with reference to the exemplaryembodiment shown in the drawings. In the figures:

FIG. 1 is a dishwashing machine according to the invention with the doorpivoted out horizontally and

FIG. 2 is a dishwashing machine according to the invention with the doorunlocked and ajar.

FIG. 1 shows a dishwashing machine 1 according to the invention where acrockery basket 3 is arranged on its door 2 which is mounted in such away that it is pivotable about a horizontal axis not shown. In thisstate a switch 4 is activated and has switched on a light source 5arranged in the interior 6 of the dishwashing machine 1. The switch 4can be connected to a control unit 7 which for its part is connected tothe light source 5 and controls its state. The control unit 7 is moreappropriately connected to an electronic program control, in theexemplary embodiment shown, a program controller of the dishwashingmachine.

A suitable switch 4 for the dishwashing machine 1 according to theinvention is an inclination switch which is constructed so that itswitches on from a certain inclination and switches off when theinclination is removed. The pivoting angle is determined at the factoryso that the switch 4 located in the door switches on only when the dooris deflected by more than 10° for example. However, it may also beappropriate to switch on the switch 4 at a smaller pivoting angle.

It is especially advantageous if, in addition to the light source 5, asignal transmitter 8 connected to the control unit 7 is provided. Theacoustic signal transmitter 8 generates an acoustic signal which soundsafter the pivotally mounted door 2 has remained open for a certain time,for example after 30 minutes, as a reminder that the door 2 is open.

FIG. 2 shows the dishwashing machine 1 with its pivotable door 2inclined such that the switch 4 is not activated. In this position steamcan easily escape from the interior of the dishwashing machine withoutthe door 2 being pivoted out so far, however, that it represents apotential hazard.

The dishwashing machine 1 according to the invention thus has theadvantage that a light source 5 is always switched on when the door 2 ispivoted out so far that it can represent a potential source of dangerbut when the pivoting angle of the door 2 is small, no light is switchedon. Also the user of the household appliance, when entering the unlitkitchen carrying items to be placed in the household appliance forexample, need not switch on the room light expressly for this purposefor loading the household appliance but merely after putting down theitems and opening the household appliance, has sufficient light to beable to load the household appliance.

The invention provides a dishwashing machine 1 provided with a door 2which is arranged in such a way that it is pivotable around a horizontalaxis thereof, which also presents no increased potential hazard when thedoor is wide open.

1-5. (canceled)
 6. A dishwashing machine, comprising: a door pivotablearound the horizontal axis thereof; a switch arranged on the door, theswitch being operable to generate an electric signal when apredetermined pivoting angle of the door is reached as the door is beingopened; and a light source that illuminates the interior of thedishwashing machine, the light source being disposed in the interior ofthe dishwashing machine and being operably connected to the switch suchthat the light source is activated into an illuminated condition inresponse to the receipt of the electrical signal from the switch.
 7. Thedishwashing machine according to claim 6, wherein the light source isarranged in the interior of the dishwashing machine when the door isopened.
 8. The dishwashing machine according to claim 6, wherein theswitch is arranged inside the door.
 9. The dishwashing machine accordingto claim 6, wherein the switch is operable to generate the electricsignal so as to cause the light source to illuminate the inner wall ofthe opened door, and, in particularly, to illuminate a crockery basketarranged on the door.
 10. The dishwashing machine according to claim 6,and further comprising an acoustic signal transmitter operably conductedto the switch such that the electric signal triggers an acoustic signal.11. The dishwashing machine according to claim 10, wherein the acousticsignal transmitter is operable to sound an acoustic signal as a reminderthat the door is open, after the door has remained open for apredetermined time such as, for example, a time of thirty (30) minutes.